Musical record and method of producing same



Aug. 7, 1934. A. E. ZOPPA MUSICAL RECORD AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed April 25, 1928 Z'ShGGfiS-SIIGGT. l

Suva/"tot flrlimnfda/ard Zqyda Aug. 7, 1934. A. E. ZOPPA 1,969,681

MUSICAL RECORD AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed'April 2 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwentoz flr/lzur Edward 20 4 10 33%;; 1 3 abtomwl Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STAT ,MUSICAL RECORD AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Arthur Edward Zoppa, New York, N. Y. Application April 25, 1928, Serial No. 272,775

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in musical records and in the art of producing the same,

and more particularly refers to methods and means fonproducing orchestral eflects by means of a player piano record in combination with a sound record synchronous therewith adapted to produce or induce pulsating currents having an audiofrequency, and means for transforming said current into sounds in accompaniment to the music produced by the player piano.

v The primary object of this invention is to provide a player piano recordto a novel and improved construction, containing in addition to the piano playing record a phonographic or magnetic or other type of sound record, adapted to produce or induce pulsating currents in an electric circuit, said pulsating currents being adapted to be converted into music of some other instru- ,ment or of the human voice in perfect synchronization with the music played by the player piano itself.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a novel type of perforated player piano record adapted to be used at the same time as a photographic sound record, reproducing the music of some other instrument or of the human voice in proper relation to the music played by the piano record, producing a concert or orchestral effect.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of producing a musical record comprising a player piano record in combination with a sound record capable of producing or inducing pulsating currents in an electric circuit, insuring perfect synchronization and accord of the music produced by the piano record, and the music of some other instrument or of the human voice, reproduced by said sound record.

Other objects and advantages of the present while unwinding from the record roll, said web traveling past a tracker bar with which the perforationsof arecord cooperate in producing the de sired musical effects.

The scope of the entertainment thus made available by the player piano and its importance from an artistic standpoint would be greatly in.- creased if it were possible to reproduce at the same time the music produced by other instruments or by the human voice. However, artistic and true musical effects can only be achieved if the music of the other instruments or of the human voice is reproduced in perfect synchroni zation with the piano rendition of the player piano. In practice however, it is diiiicult to obtain perfect synchronization of diflerent records, unless the production of said records and the reproduction of sounds thereby are scrupulously controlled by exact methods, and unless the means at hand are of a practical and positive character.

The idea of combining a piano record with another record adapted to reproduce thev music of accompanying instruments or the sound of the human voice is not in a broad sense, new. With this end in view methods have heretofore been proposed whereby a concert or orchestral effect could be obtained by attaching a phonograph record in strip form to one of the edges of the piano record in synchronized relation thereto and causing a phonographic stylus to bear against the phonographic record while the same travels with and at the same'speed as the piano record.

This method of reprdduction has proved to be impractical for various reasons. To begin with a phonographic record should have a relatively hard surface, and in order to produce a surface having the required hardness and weight, possessing the flexibility which is called \for by the winding and unwinding operations of a piano record, it is practically necessary. to make metallic records, which are far more expensive than paper webs of the ordinary type. Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to control the vibrations of the phonograph arm attached to the piano instrument, induced by the playing of the piano itself, and this diillculty seriously interferes with the clarity of the phonographic rendition.

Another objectionable feature of this type of records is the scratching of the stylus bearing -against the surface of the record ,which is intensifled by the body of the record itself.

By my present invention, I provide a new type of record which may be made of relatively inexpensive material and which is absolutely free of the difiiculties, of-a mechanical or physical nature, such as those mentioned, and I also provide an entirely practical and simple method for its production by the adaptation of means which arein themselves well known.

The record forming one of the objects of the present invention comprises essentially a piano record in web form of the ordinary perforated type, and a sound record of a photographic or conductive or magnetic nature adapted to control and to operate a loud speaker secured by inducing or producing audiofrequency pulsating currents in said circuit without requiring any physical contact between the record and any vibrating element or part of the sound reproducing devices.

This obviates the necessity of using flexible materials having hard surfaces, and permits of using relatively inexpensive materials having the necessary flexibility and light weight. Furthermore, a much greater range of tone and volume and a much greater flexibility of control of the reproduced music is thus obtainable.

Inthe preferred embodiment of my invention, I use an auxiliary sound record of the photo electric type integral with the perforated piano record, both records being produced on the same strip of a suitable transparent material such as for instance, celluloid; simultaneous and synchronous reproductions of said records being obtainable by means of a player piano equipped with suitable photo-sensitive devices and a source of light cooperating therewith, such as described and claimed in another application filed simultaneously herewith, entitled Apparatus for musical reproductions.

My invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a record embodying my invention comprising a player piano record and a photographic sound record;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of another record embodying my invention in a different form:

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sound recording arrangement embodying my invention;

Fig. 4 is a detail side sectional view in elevation of a special type of player piano used for reproduction of the auxiliary sound record;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan sectional view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement for reproducing a record of the type shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 'I is a diagrammatic illustration for reproducing a record of the type shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, 10 designates a music record embodying my invention, comprising a player piano record section 11, provided with the usual periorations 12, and a photographic sound record section 13 having a photographic sound record 14 which is obtained by any suitable process. The two records are exactly timed in musical relation and are complementary to each other, so that if for instance, the photographic record has been obtained by the playing of a violin, the composite record will produce the effect of piano music with a violin accompaniment.

A record of this character as stated, has the advantage over an ordinary phonographic record that no physical contact between the record itself and the reproducing devices is required; the imperfections and limitations arising from difiiculties of a mechanical nature are therefore eliminated.

For the production of true and artistic musical effects it is essential that both the piano record and the auxiliary sound record be in per fect accord and in Figs. 3, 4, 5, I illustrate a method whereby this result may be obtained by the use of comparatively simple means.

A photographic sound record is usually obtained by exposing a photographic film to the light emanating from a luminous source, the intensity of which is affected by variations in the current flowing through the circuit into which the luminous source of light is inserted, caused by pulsating currents flowing in a microphone circuit inductively associated therewith.

In Fig. 3, I illustrate a simp1e arrangement for producing a photographic sound record on the film 15 which is preferably part of the player piano record itself, as shown in Fig. l. The part of said film which is to receive the photographic impressions has a sensitized surface and is caused to pass in front of a source of light 16, which may be a luminous gas discharge lamp energized by any suitable source of current, for instance, a battery 17. 18 designates the transmitter or mi crophone, included in a closed circuit 19 with a source of current 20, the lamp circuit and the microphone circuit being inductively associated with each other, through transformer coil 21 The light rays issuing from lamp in through a lens 22 and if desired, through a color filter 23 and as the film 15 moves in front of the color filter, the light emanating from the lamp 16 is recorded on the film in the form of a iine varying in intensity in accordance with the so waves induced in the microphone circuit by the instrument or voice to be reproduced by the photographic sound record.

With the arrangement described, the sound waves reaching the microphone give occurrence to pulsating currents which affect the closed circult of the lamp 16, thereby causing slight variations in the current flowing therethrough which cause variations in the intensity of light supplied to the sensitized surface of the film. The photographic record will therefore appear on the film as a continuous succession of varying light exposures.

In order to produce a musical record of this character, it is necessary to insure the absolute synchronization of the two elementary-records, and it is also necessary to protect the energized portion of the film against the action of external sources of light when the record is made.

I satisfy the first main requirement by pro ducing the photographic sound record while the film is placed on a player piano and its piano record is played while the music thus produced is accompanied by the human voice or by the instrument or instruments which"are to be recorded on the photographic record.

The proper musical relation' between the piano music and that of the other performing instruments or voices will therefore be faithfully reproduced in the composite record.

In order to produce the photographic record under these conditions, it is necessary or at least preferable for the performer at the player piano to be able to see the record as it unwinds from its roll; at the same time, as stated, the sensitized part of the film or record should be protected against light emanating from external sources. For the production of the records therefore, I use a player piano 24 of a special construction in which the record chamber 25 is divided by a partition 26 into a piano record chamber 27 and a photographic sound record chamber 28.

The web or film 15 which unwinds from roll 29 when it is wound upon drum 30 forming part of a usual playerpiano mechanism passes in front of the tracker bar 31, which controls the playing of the piano. The end of roll 29 cor- Ill responding to the sensitized edge portion of the film projects through partition 26 within chamber 28, and the web or film itself travels from the roll to the drum through a slot 33 provided insaid partition.

The front of the record chamber is closed by a cover 34 comprising an opaque portion 35 preventing the possibility of any light reaching the inside of chamber 28 and another open portion 36 carrying a transparent panel 37 of a color such as light red or yellow preventing the passage of actinic light rays. The performer is therefore able to see the unfolding record underneath, and to follow all the indications and directions given thereby, while at the same time chemically active rays of light other than those issuing from lamp 16 cannot reach the sensitized portion of the film.

The lamp 16, lens 22 and color filter 23 are enclosed in a chamber 38 carried by portion 35 of the cover, said chamber opening directly in front of the sensitized portion of the film on which the photographic record is made. The exposed portion of the film is preferably caused to rest against a rear surface 39, constantly maintaining the film at the proper focusing distance.

It will be understood that when the record is produced the performers accompanying the piano music will be close to the microphone and at a distance from the player piano. In order to produce a clear photographic sound record, it is preferable that the same be caused to reproduce only music or song of the accompanying performers and not the music produced by the player piano on which the piano record is played; therevfore, the player piano is preferably arranged so that it will give only muiiled sounds, barely loud enough for the accompanying performers to keep the proper musical time in accordance therewith.

However, the piano record may be played in the normal manner if desired, in which case, the piano music together with that of the accompanying instruments or performers will also be reproduced by the photographic sound record; so that when the composite record is played on a reproducing instrument, comprising a player piano, the piano music will be produced both by the perforated piano record and by the photographic record as a part of an orchestra.

The composite record is played by means of a player piano of a special construction, which forms the subject of another application, en-

titled Apparatus for musical reproductions, filed simultaneously herewith.

The operation of the record when reproducing music is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. -6 where 40 designates a player piano provided with a record chamber 41 in which the film or record 42 is caused to pass in front of a tracker bar 43, controlling the playing of the piano.

The photographic record-which is produced along one of the edges of the film, is caused to pass through a closed chamber comprising a front portion 44, and a rear portion 45 divided by a slot 46. The front portion 44 of the chamber contains a source of light 4'1 which is constant in intensity and a lens 48 directing the light rays thereof, against the photographic record. The light that passes through said record will vary in accordance with the light exposures on said cuit 50 of any suitable type and will cause fluctuating currents therethrough which vary directly in correspondence with the original sound waves from which the sound records were produced. The p ting currents thus produced may be converted into sound waves in any well known manner and will reproduce the original music through a receiver or loud speaker 51.

It is obvious that since the photographic sound record is reproduced at the same time that the piano record is played, a perfectly synchronized musical effect will be obtained. The speed at which the record is caused to move may be that of the usual player piano record which varies from one to three inches per second, according to the tempo at which the music is played. At these speeds the fundamental tones and also the harmonics of the lower frequencies can be recorded. However, it is feasible to operate the record at higher speeds, particularly with the perforations more widely spaced, and at such higher speeds, sounds of higher frequencies can be easily recorded.

While I prefer to carry my invention into practice by combining a perforated piano record and a photographic sound record in a transparent film, other means than a photographic record may be employed for reproducing sound waves by causing pulsating currents in a reproducing circuit with or without amplification.

For instance, in Fig. 2, I illustrate a record which is also within the scope of my invention, in

.which a perforated piano record section 52 is combined with a record 53 consisting of a succession of sound wave characters printed by means of an electrically conductive ink, said characters being in the form of a line of appreciable width having wavy edges.

Such a record is made in accordance with the method described in the patent to E. P. Bone, #1,580,112, and by means of the same when the paper is made to move in such a manner that successive parts of the ink line pass in close proximity to some part of an electric circuit, it will change the electric capacity of said circuit in correspondence with changes in the character of the ink line.

The changes in capacity cause a correspondingiy changing current to flow in the circuit when the circuit is under the influence of a suitable electro-motive force. This change in current which is similar to the current in a telephone circuit is transformed in audible sound waves by a telephone receiver or the like connected in the circuit. The changing'current is preferably amplified by one or more vacuum tubes before it is converted into audible waves. By virtue of said amplification an ink line of small dimensions on a contact sheet or roll of paper is possible. Also in this case no moving mechanical contacts are required and purer tones are produced.

In Fig. '7, the film 54 which comprises an electrically conductive sound record such as described, is played in the ordinary manner in a player piano 55 and a brush 56 is in contact with said electrically conductive sound record. A generator.57 is used to furnish the electric motive force to charge the electrically-conductive sound record and the conductor 58, which is spaced therefrom. Said conductor 58 is connected to the grid 59 of a vacuum tube 60.

The fluctuations in the width of the ink line at 81 of the moving record 54 causes a varying electrical influence on conductor 58 which in turn affects the grid 59. The potential of the grid which thus fluctuates. in harmony with the waves of the ink line, thus give rise to an amplified pulsating current in the platecircuit 63,includlng the telephone receiver or loud speaker 64.

From the foregoing. it will be-seen that 1 provide an entirely new means of producing musical eilects having a high artistic value, which can be produced by relatively simple means and at comparatively small cost.

A musical record of thetype to which this invention refers can be produced by means other than those shown and described without departing from the inventive idea; therefore the drawings should be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. I accordingly reserve myself the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A perforated musical record adapted to control the mechanical operation of a musical instrument, said record having a transparent section carrying a photographic sound record synchronized therewith.

2. A musical record comprising a main section having perforations adapted to control the mechanlcal operations of a musical instrument, and an edge section carrying a photographic sound record synchronized therewith, said main and edge sections being in the form 01a web made of transparent material.

3. The method of producing a sound record on a perforated music sheet having a photo-sensitive portion, which method comprises. playing said perforated sheet. as. a guide, playing accompanying music in synchronism therewith, and simultaneously making a photographic record of said accomp nying sound on the photo-sensitive portion of said sheet.

4. The method ofproducing a sound record on means having a recorded section and an unre-' corded section capable of receiving a sound record thereon, which method comprises playing the recorded section in a muilied tone as a guide. producing accompanying sound in timed relation therewith, and recording said accompanying sound upon said unrecorded section.

ARTHUR EDWARD ZOPPA. 

